Place loose leaf paper in a three-ring binder. Successful students recommend this because it makes it easier for you to take out individual pages for studying later on, and it allows you to place materials your instructor gives you alongside information you have written down yourself.
Make sure the paper is clear of previous writing. If you recycle old notebook paper, throw out the pages that contain writing or drawing. A clean note-taking surface helps you to stay organized when copying down notes. A page filled with old drafts of essays or comic doodles will probably distract you.
Start each note-taking session with a fresh page. While you may feel tempted to begin a new day's worth of notes just below where you left off last time, it is important to keep each day's work clear and separate.
Write the date clearly at the top of your fresh note page. This allows you to maintain an effective chronology when you return to your notes for study purposes later on.